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Sickle Cell Anaemia is the most common form of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). SCD is a serious disorder in which the body makes sickle-shaped red blood cells. Sickle-shaped means that the red blood cells are shaped like a crescent. In Gujarat, this disease is prevalent in certain tribes. The State Government under the leadership of Honble Chief Minister is committed to improve the lives of marginalized people and weaker sections of society to bring them at par with rest of the people of the State. As a part of improving the lives of people especially tribals and in a bid to control the menace of disease which affects a very large tribal population of the state, the Government has taken various measures and also decided to set up Gujarat Sickle Cell Control Society. The Sickle Cell Anaemia Control Programme was started in four districts of South Gujarat in the year 2006 at the behest of Honble Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The programme was later expanded to all 12 tribal districts of the State. Initially, 78 Government and NGO Institutions were involved in the programme from 4 tribal districts of South Gujarat. As of December 2010, there were 414 centres across the 12 tribal districts of that were involved in the comprehensive care of SCA patients.

The Government has taken up the challenging task of Mass Sickle Cell Screening of all 61.62 lakh tribal population of Gujarat within 5 years at a cost of Rs.24.76 crore. The Government of Gujarat also signed a MoU with GIOSTAR, a USA based company for creating stem cell faculties at the Government Medical College, Surat. Under this programme, more than 13 lakh tribal people benefited during last four years. This is an unique and a highly focused programme to tackle the problem of Sickle Cell Anemia in the tribal population of the State. A multi-pronged and comprehensive strategy was adopted. They were also provided necessary counseling. Marriage counseling was also done amongst youngsters. As a result, tremendous awareness is noticeable amongst tribal people of Gujarat by way of their participation in prenatal diagnosis and new born screening program, thereby reducing morbidity and mortality as a result of this genetic disorder. In fact, to improve the lives of tribal people and bring them at par with rest of the population in the State, Honble Chief Minister has launched a Rs.15,000 crore Van Bandhu Yojana for implementation during 11th Five Year Plan (2007-2012). During last 10 years, Gujarat is acknowledged as a State which has planned and implemented a number of excellent initiatives which have solved the problems of the State and these initiatives have become model for rest of the country. Some of the schemes/models have been recognized internationally by Commonwealth and United Nations.

The health sector, which was rather ignored at the last Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors’ Summit (VGGIS), has attracted Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) worth Rs 7,231.26 crore as against Rs 800 crore signed in the previous summits. The number of MOUs signed in this sector shot up from eight in 2007 to 32 this year, the highest till date. Dr J Awasia, the Deputy Director of Medical Sciences, said: “Apart from a huge upswing in the number of projects signed, quite a few number of interesting projects have come up this time.” The GIOSTAR Global Institute for Stemcell Therapy Treatment MoU was signed for a 2-billion dollar investment, bringing home the much-awaited stem-cell treatment that promises to bring hope for many diseases in one go. Among the promising projects signed at the summit are the setting up of a 5,000-bed super specialty private hospital by the Narayan Rutiulaya Pvt Ltd, which will equal the proposed capacity of the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, which is to be upgraded under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). The Quality Council of India has come up with a project to assess and upgrade the quality standards of the rural health institutes like the Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in the state.

The Rs 5-crore project will see investment undertaken by the government, with the Quality Council of India providing technological cooperation. Joint Secretary (Health) Mona Khadar, said: “The first of its kind Naturopathy Treatment Centre at Anand has been signed by the Nisarg Hospital. Naturopathy is an emerging area in the state. This project is worth Rs 7 crore.” A Rs 2-crore Homoeopathic Hospital to be set up by the M L Dhavle Memorial Homoeopathy Institution will be an addition to the homoeopathy treatment services in the state. Medical education has successfully grabbed the attention of investors. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) will set up a dental and a medical college (150 seats each) attached to the L G Hospital (Sheth Lallubhai General Hospital) at the closed Balakiya Mills site. The Adani Education Research Foundation has entered an MoU to set up a 150-seat medical college in Bhuj. The Gujarat Cancer Society will also set up a 150-seat medical college in Ahmedabad at a cost of Rs 100 crore. Of the eight MoUs signed at the previous summit, two have been dropped and another two are reportedly complete. The remaining four projects are under process. The 32 MoUs in the health sector this time look promising. With the government announcing 60 per cent of the implementation, compared to the RTI documents showing only 25 per cent, at least investment of Rs 180 crore is expected to flow in.

Surat to get Rs 90 cr Stem Cell Hospital

SURAT: The city has taken a major leap in medical field. A stem cell hospital to be developed at a cost of Rs 90 crore will become operational within three years.

The entire project will be undertaken and financed by the government health department and Rs 30 crore will be released this year as the first installment.

The 160-bed hospital will also carry out extensive research on stem cell.

The seven-storey building will come up adjacent to the Cancer Research Centre in New Civil Hospital campus. The posts of microbiologist, pathologist, paediatrician and administrator have already been approved and process of recruitments is underway.

“We have already started work for constructing the laboratory. The entire project is going on at a good speed,” said M K Vadel, superintendent of NCH.

San Diego, California-based Global Institute of Stem Cell Therapy and Research will provide the necessary technical assistance, train the local staff and assist in research activity.

“We are working on the design of the project which is the in final stage and once the grant is received we would start the construction work full steam. The project is being developed in Surat keeping the health issues related to tribals,” said Vadel.

Sickle-cell anaemia being a prevalent problem in the tribal belt of south Gujarat, research in using stem cell technology can help in controlling it, experts believe.

The NCH authorities are yet to get details about the treatment charges for citizens. The project will be another major development at the Surat NCH after initiation of leptospirorsis laboratory and cancer research.

GIOSTAR was invited by University of Panama’s President office to explore the possibility of establishing the stem cell research program for the country of Panama. University of Panama being the largest university in the country wanted to develop the stem cell science related curriculum for its medical collage. GOSTAR being the prominent institute in the filed of stem cell research from USA, would be the perfect match for the country like Panama to step in the arena which requires strong scientific guidance and support. This much needed collaboration would help the country like Panama to prepare its upcoming researchers to compete in the highly competitive field of stem cell science.

GIOSTAR Chairman Dr. Anand Srivastava interviewed by President office of University of Panama for the collaboration in the field of stem cell science.

GIOSTAR Chairman Dr. Anand Srivastava discussing advancement of stem cell science with the President of University of Panama in Panama City.

GIOSTAR Chairman Dr. Anand Srivastava and GIOSTAR CEO Mr. Deven Patel received by President office of University of Panama for the collaboration efforts to bring the USA based institution in the Panama for the advancement of stem cell science.

Deven Patel is recognized by Continental Who’s Who among Pinnacle Professionals in the field of Research and Development. Deven is the CEO, President and Co-Founder of the Global Institute of Stem Cell Therapy and Research (GIOSTAR).

By delivering the most effective and safest stem cell therapies, GIOSTAR offers human stem-cell based therapy to assist individuals around the world suffering from various types of degenerative and genetic diseases such as autism, diabetes, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, cancer, strokes, heart and blood related diseases, spinal cord injuries, paralysis and skin burns.

Created with the vision of providing affordable stem cell based therapies to individuals around the world, GIOSTAR is currently in the process of opening stem cell treatment hospitals around the world in locations including USA, India, China, Thailand, Dubai,Philippines, Brazil, Sweden, Turkey, and Bahamas.

In his current position, Mr. Patel works closely in the following areas: business development, entrepreneurship, healthcare, leadership, research, strategic planning and more. He possesses nearly fifteen years of industry experience and founded GIOSTAR seven years ago.

A well rounded businessman, Mr. Patel has served as the President of Federation of India Associations San Diego (FIA-SD) in addition to numerous positions of both public and private organizations such as GIOSTAR Foundation, National Federation of Indian American Association and the Asian Business Association as well as Reality Changers, CRY America, Global Organization of People of Indian Origin. The founding President of the founding President of Asian and Pacific American Coalition (APAC), he has also served as Vice President of the newly formed San Diego United Lion’s Club.

Throughout the course of his illustrious career, Mr. Patel has gained multiple honors and accolades for his professionalism, incomparable knowledge and efforts. The recipient of the USA Congressional Recognition, Mr. Patel received the Asian Heritage award for his business leadership in the stem cell science industry.

Reflecting on his collegiate studies, Mr. Patel graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with both his MBA in Finance and undergraduate degree in Architecture.